The toaster pops up two slices, scatters a few more crumbs, then sits idle until tomorrow’s breakfast. Right beside it, a bigger box on the counter may already be warming leftover pizza or roasting vegetables. When two appliances reach for the same jobs, one of them starts to look like it’s just taking up space.
The bigger box next to it
That bigger box is the countertop convection oven, and more and more often, the air-fryer toaster oven. It opens at the front like a tiny oven. Inside are racks, and on the front are settings for toast, baking, broiling, reheating and air frying.
It’s turning up in more kitchens. The 2025 Houzz U.S. Kitchen Trends Study looks at the appliances homeowners choose during renovations. One machine that handles many jobs is an easy sell next to one that does a single thing.
The shape matters, though. A basket air fryer can brown bread. But it usually lacks the wide, level rack and the toast settings that make an appliance a real stand-in for the toaster.
Why it does more than toast
Think about what happens when you push that toaster lever. The bread sits right next to glowing elements, and that intense heat browns both sides fast. For pure speed, the old toaster is still hard to beat.
The countertop oven works differently. Heating elements above and below toast the bread. In convection and air-fry modes, a fan moves hot air around the food. Because the space inside is small, you can crisp fries, revive leftovers or bake a few cookies without heating up a full-size oven.
So the trade is simple. You give up a fast specialist for one machine that covers several everyday jobs.
Your first breakfast without the pop-up
Before you give the toaster away, try the new routine. Lay two slices of the same thickness on the middle rack, with a little space between them. Then pick the lightest Toast setting. Watch that first round through the glass, because fresh, frozen and dense whole-grain breads all brown at different speeds.
If your oven has a dial and asks for a temperature, check its manual for the recommended toast setting. For crostini, line up 1/2-inch slices in a single layer. Toast them at 450°F for about 5 to 6 minutes, and stop when the edges turn golden.
If one side browns faster than the other, move the rack up or down a level, or flip the bread halfway through the next batch. Leave the crumb tray in place. Use the baking pan for pastries with icing or fillings that might drip. Once you’ve found the right shade for your usual loaf, breakfast becomes almost as automatic as pressing a lever.
Where the pop-up still earns its spot
These ovens run hot and need clear space around their vents. Appliance manuals are blunt about this: never leave home while one is running, keep it off a power strip, and unplug it once it’s cool before cleaning out grease and crumbs.
If breakfast is always one or two plain slices, a slot toaster is still faster, smaller and simpler.
